This week, my brunch buddy and I decided to go out for a casual weekday lunch instead of our typical weekend brunch date.  For the past few weeks, he has been telling me about a new French café, Choc O Pain, that opened in downtown Hoboken.  He had lunch there a few times and told me I’d love it.

Choc O Pain just opened in mid-January, so it is relatively new on the Hoboken scene.  It is located at 157 First Street, between Bloomfield and Garden Streets.  It happens to be right near one of my all-time favorite Hoboken bars, Mulligan’s.  I parked my car at a meter right out front and met my brunch buddy for what I hoped would be a delicious lunch.

Here is my recap.

Big Crowd, Even on a Weekday. 

My brunch buddy and I met up around 12:30, prime lunch hour.  I figured since it was a weekday and a relatively new place, it would not be too crowded.

I walked up to the counter, surveying the menu printed on chalkboards and hung on the walls and delicious treats in the glass cases.  I made my selection (I will get to that in a bit), told my brunch buddy and went off in search of a table.

There are three tables and one larger high table in the downstairs area.  All were completely full.  Choc O Pain is definitely the type of place where you can share a table with a stranger and still enjoy your meal, but I decided to venture upstairs to the second floor, figuring I would have more luck up there.  There were a number of tables, also all completely full.

I went back downstairs, ready to tell my brunch buddy the bad news, when a table opened up.  I slid into the seat, pulled out my laptop and connected to Choc O Pain’s free WIFI to catch up on some work.

One of my favorite things about Choc O Pain is the many little notes around the restaurant on black paper with silver marker.  There was one right on our table telling the WIFI name and password.  I was on the internet in seconds and caught up on my emails just as our lunch was served.

Feel at Home. 

As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was entering a bistro in Paris.  Baskets of bread line the windows and fresh, delicious looking pastries practically jump out at you when you walk in.

There is nothing standard or typical about Choc O Pain.  While I was upstairs searching for a table, I could not get over how comfortable and at home I felt.  There were a number of unique tables with sofas and chairs.  They are grouped into little sections – almost like four separate living rooms, designed specifically for you to enjoy a carefree lunch.

The upstairs also has a play area with toys for little kids.  There are rubber play mats and a guard to protect the kids in the play area.  It is the perfect spot for a play date – mom’s can sit and chat while kids have plenty of toys to entertain themselves.

As I looked around, I saw a wide range of patrons at Choc O Pain; nurses on their lunch break, moms with babies, friends chatting about their days and tourists enjoying a casual lunch.  It offers the perfect lunch experience for anyone looking for a delicious meal and a new experience unlike anything else in Hoboken.

Sandwiches. 

Choc O Pain has a variety of sandwiches all displayed behind the glass.  They even have French specialties such as Croque Monsieur.

My brunch buddy ordered the Ham and Swiss on a baguette, his favorite on the Choc O Pain menu. Although the ingredients are delicious by themselves, at Choc O Pain, the bread is the star in the sandwiches. Baked fresh on the premises daily, the chewy, crusty baguette is perfect for a great sandwich. He’s tried most of the sandwiches here (tuna and roasted vegetable too), but the ham and Swiss is by far his favorite.

Quiche. 

When I walked up to the counter, my eyes bounced back and forth between all of the many options.  Everything looked delicious and I had no idea what to pick.  Then I saw a little sign for Quiche Lorraine – one of my favorites.  I saw a quiche with leeks and another with red and yellow peppers, but no Quiche Lorraine.  I asked one of the waitresses if they had any left, but they were out.  Ready to wait for them to prepare a new batch, they told me they would not be making any more until tomorrow.

I decided instead of a sandwich, I would try one of the quiches that they did have.  What other item defines how great a French café really is?  I was torn between the pepper and leek.  I was not really sure how I would like the leek, so I asked a server what he thought was the best.  He told me without a doubt, the leek was amazing and that I would love it.

Wow was he right!   I am now a fan of leeks, absolutely delicious.  It was cooked just right, the center still a little moist and the crust crispy and flakey.  The portion was the perfect size and it was accompanied by a healthy, fresh side salad.  I tried to eat mine as quickly as I could, hoping my brunch buddy would not want a taste (it was so good, I did not want to share!).  He asked before I had a chance to finish and like me, he was absolutely hooked.  I ended up giving him one last bite before I finished it off!

Breads and Pastries. 

It is absolutely impossible for your mouth to not water as you ogle at the many freshly made pastries and breads behind the counter.  I told my brunch buddy it was an absolute must that we try at least one thing.

We decided on the choc o pain itself, chocolate baked into a pastry.  I referred to it as a chocolate croissant, but my brunch buddy quickly corrected me.

I love to get choc o pain from Au Bon Pain and although they are good there, this one blew me away.  It was very flaky, yet soft.  The chocolate on the inside was soft and still a little melted unlike most places where it is a little hard and dried up.

After eating our lunches and the choc o pain, we were not quite ready to finish up and leave.  We decided on one last treat, a berry tart with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.  My brunch buddy told me he had never had a tart before, so he was looking forward to giving it a try.  I figured since there was some fresh fruit it had to be healthy!!

The fruit was very fresh, they could have added a bit more pastry cream.  Although it did taste very good, it was my least favorite item that I tried.  It also costs a little over $6.00, which seemed a bit steep for a fruit tart.

The Verdict.

Out of five spoons, I give Choc O Pain four and half.  The atmosphere is so warm and inviting, I was actually disappointed when it was time to leave.  It is the perfect place to come for a casual meal when you are in no rush to be anywhere.  The food is amazing and the glass cases of tasty treats beckon you to try more.

If you are looking for something different than the delicious Italian bakeries in town, it is the perfect spot to pick up bread or pastries before a dinner party.  Choc O pain is a great new and different addition to the Hoboken restaurant scene.  Definitely a must try!